Paper 2 - Individual Differences Area

Question 1

What are 3 key concepts in the individual area ?

Answer 1

Evolution
Eugenics
Differences and commonalities.

Question 2

What does the concept of evolution assume ?

Answer 2

All individuals are genetically unique causing genetic variation.
The individuals who successfully breed are the ones who are better adapted to the environment they’re living in due to natural selection.

Question 3

What does the concept of eugenics assume ?

Answer 3

There is a single human quality of intelligence which is fixed and cannot be improved. The differences in intelligence are due to genetics such as race and gender. It refers to an attempt to improve the quality of human being through selective breeding.

Question 4

What is the concept of differences and commonalities ?

Answer 4

The ideographic approach allows us to investigate unique features of individuals (differences) by taking a qualitative approach to looking in depth into a particular person . For example, Freuds study on Little Hans focuses on the uniqueness of Freuds phobia.
Studying similarities allows us to take a nomothetic approach to study larger groups of people using quantitative data. For example Baron-Cohen focuses on the commonalities of theory of mind deficits within ASD.

Question 5

What are the applications of the individual area ?

Answer 5

It allows us to produce ways to assess the differences between people - psychometrics. For example, personality tests, IQ tests and teste for disorders. These tests must be reliable, valid and standardised to evaluate individual differences.
It can help us to develop interventions and treatments due to detailed insight into disorders.

Question 6

What are the strengths of the individual area ?

Answer 6

The use of ‘abnormal’ samples increases our understanding of ‘normal’ behaviour as well as understanding ‘abnormal’ behaviour.
It focuses on what makes people different, providing special insight rather than making generalisations.
It’s application of psychometric tests allows us to produce valid, reliable and standardises ways to investigate unique features.

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of the individual area ?

Answer 7

• The area lacks a set of defining beliefs about why
  people behave the way they do e.g. Hancock et al.
   The tools/methods used for measuring differences may not always be valid e.g. Freud.
   The methodology used in this area may not be
  objective and is therefore open to bias e.g. Freud.
   It may be difficult to find suitable or willing participants, so samples are often unrepresentative e.g. Baron-Cohen et al., Hancock et al.
   The area often raises the ethical or moral issue of
  ‘labelling people as different’ e.g. Freud, Hancock.
   Often case studies are used which can lead to biased conclusions / open to researcher bias e.g. Freud.
   Difficult to make generalisations/predictions because of the focus on individuals e.g. Freud
   The reliance on qualitative data makes it difficult to
  identify patterns/make comparisons e.g. Freud,
  Hancock et al.
   Lacks scientific rigour e.g. Freud.
   It is a socially sensitive topic, e.g Gould.

Question 8

What does the individual area assume ?

Answer 8

it assumes that we are all a combination of unique biological make-up, experience and personality. It is possible to measure and study individual differences via psychometric testing. We can understand our behaviour in relation to individual factors.

Question 9

What are the similarities of the individual area ?

Answer 9

Biological area has ideographic studies, for example, Sperry’s studies on split brains.

Question 10

What are the differences of the individual area ?

Answer 10

The area focuses on unique differences. All other areas look at similarities between people - theories that apply to everyone.

Question 11

What are the applications of the individual area ?

Answer 11

Psychometric testing - Differences can be measured in valid and reliable ways e.g. tests of IQ and psychopathy.
Interventions - To help people, interventions can be put in place such as the transporters book series which teachers facial expression recognition to people with theory of mind deficit. Also psychoanalysis helped Little Hans overcome is horse phobia.

Question 12

What are the paired studies in the individual area and their main focus ?

Answer 12

Freud and Baron Cohen et al - understanding disorders.
Gould and Hancock et al - measuring differences.

Question 13

Which side of the…
Nature/nurture
individual/situational
determinism/freewill
reductionism/holism
does the individual area support ?

Answer 13

Nature
Individual
Determinism
Reductionist

Question 14

How does the individual differences area support the nature debate ?

Answer 14

It assumes that the genetic we are born with impact how our personality forms, and influences how we develop during childhood. For example, in Baron Cohen’s study on theory of mind, we can conclude that individual with ASD are born with theory of mind deficits, it is a genetic factor.

Question 15

How does the individual differences area support the individual debate ?

Answer 15

The individual differences are assumes that we can understand our behaviour in relation to personal factors, rather than in relation to society and its contribution. For example, in Hancock’s study on psychopaths, he suggests that it is due to brain abnormalities that are present at birth, such as reductions of volume of grey matter.

Question 16

How does the individual differences area support the determinism debate ?

Answer 16

The individual are assumes that a persons personality is predetermined by their genetic makeup rather than choice. For example, in Hancock’s study on psychopaths, he concludes that the diminished capacity for moral sensibility is biologically determined.

Question 17

How does the individual differences area support the Reductionist debate ?

Answer 17

In the individual area it is assumed that human behaviour can be understood by studying isolated biological components and breaking them down into simpler elements. It focuses on identifying the innate processes that contribute to behaviour and personality. It does not consider the environmental factors that contribute to personality. For example in Baron Cohen’s study on theory of mind, it focuses on whether the deficit is innate within all ASD individuals, rather than factoring in their upbringing - environmental factors during childhood may affect their ability to recognise facial expressions.